JJ Redick said on May 13 that the Los Angeles Lakers need to make changes to their roster if they want to compete for a championship. The statement came after the team was swept by the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second round of the playoffs.
Redick reflected on his second season with the Lakers, during which they won 53 games and advanced past the Houston Rockets in the first round despite missing Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves for much of that series. However, he acknowledged that there is a significant gap between his team and top contenders.
“That’s what we gotta figure out this offseason,” Redick said after Game 4. “I will say for the things that we set out to do, build our championship habits and build our championship communication and championship shape, I thought we were darn close to doing that.
“And it doesn’t mean you’re gonna win a championship, but I take a lot of, I think I would say I take a lot of pride in our players, and what they all individually went through, what we collectively went through and what we turned out to be. You don’t know on day one of training camp what you’re gonna turn out to be, and I’m just proud of who we are.”
While Redick expressed pride in his team’s growth over the season and stressed continuity as important, he also admitted changes are needed. “Yeah, I believe in continuity,” he said. “I do think that if you’re trying to win a championship, and this organization is. I’m trying to win a championship. I know [Rob Pelinka] is trying to win a championship, I know Jeanie [Buss] is, I know Mark [Walter] is. We’re trying to win a championship. So you have to be realistic and assess where you’re at, and we’re not good enough right now. There probably will be some continuity; there probably won’t be. But that’s what the next two months are for.”
The Lakers have cap space available as well as draft assets heading into this offseason with only six players under contract next year; significant changes could occur before training camp begins.
Looking ahead, Redick wants core players like Luka Doncic, LeBron James, and Austin Reaves back next season but indicated adjustments will likely happen around other parts of the roster.